Locals claim that Lone “was killed by the forces” during a nocturnal cordon and search operation carried out jointly by the army and Special Operation Group (SOG) during the intervening night of May 18 and 19.

However, police said that the cordon was carried out in Hakripora area which is at quite a distance from Gudoora village. “He was killed by Lashkar (-e-Toiba). Army didn’t kill him,” Superintendent Police Muhammad Aslam told Kashmir Narrator.

Reports suggested that top Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Abu Djuana gave slip to the forces during the cordon and search operation.